Now I want to show 10 traits that distinguish a successful franchisee. If you do not qualify in at least 8 of these traits, it would be best if you did not buy a franchise, because you will not enjoy your work and it will cause problems for the franchisor, the other franchisees and the clients in your territory.
It is clear that the franchisee is an entrepreneur who does not want to work for others but for himself. But be careful, the franchisee is a special entrepreneur, because, whilst being independent, he/she deeply wants to be backed, that is, he/she understands that the franchise contract does not mean dependency or independence but "interdependence".
The franchisee is not an entrepreneur who is going to change the world with an extraordinary idea. But it is very useful for the commercial distribution and brand expansion system, as the growth of the franchising system around the world clearly shows. Incidentally, this implies a huge responsibility for franchisors when designing their franchise systems, as they must ensure that the franchisee can develop a successful business for himself in his territory as well.
A franchise involves following to the letter a system that has already proven to be successful in one territory to replicate that success in another. Therefore, the entrepreneur who accepts the rules is going to be much more successful (and happier) than the innovative and disruptive entrepreneur, who can end up destroying the long and expensive work that the franchisor carried out by putting together and systematizing the original business model.
In addition to respecting an imposed system, there are 10 other characteristics that are common to successful franchisees, which I describe below. At night, in complete solitude, in the only moment when you cannot lie, when you rest your head on the pillow, you must decide if buying a franchise is or is not for you.
1- Planner engineer. You like numbers very much. You like to make schedules, measure performance ratios, compare how things went this month versus last month. You do not expect the franchisor to tell you, but it is you who take the initiative to say that you hear a strange noise in the engine and that you would like to check it, just like you do with your car. I mean, you are obsessive and you want a car without noise.
2- Strategic vision. You look at the labyrinth from above and don't get involved in daily problems. If you get caught up in the day to day, you end up becoming your own employee, which is a disgusting situation. When you are inside the maze you cannot find the solution to daily problems. When you rise up and look at the maze from above, you can easily see what the solution is.
3- Maker. You make things happen. You don't wait for customers to come, but go out to look for them. You don't wait for the problem to arise, you have several contingency plans in your folder. To pay an invoice never catches you off guard. Everything is coldly calculated from a long time before.
4- Always with a positive attitude. You inspire other people with your attitude. You solve problems instead of wondering why they happened. For each problem that appears, you imagine 4 or 5 new opportunities. Your team is looking for you because you have a reputation for getting bigger when things get ugly. In other words, you are a leader and create a winning environment around you. Everyone wants to work with you because you are a motivator.
5- Group maker. You like people, meetings and events because you are very sociable. Your clients and employees constantly inspire you and you are always thinking about how to surprise them and how to make them feel comfortable being related to you. No one is bored by your side. You have a good vibe and you are not complaining all day about the dollar, inflation, taxes and the government.
6- Limited risk. You are one of those who put the seat belt before starting the engine. It is true that you like entrepreneurial risk, but limited risk. Your people follow you because you are not crazy. On the contrary. We are all going this way, but with our seat belts on. You love receiving advise from the franchisor. He has many more kilometers than you and is very interested in you not having an accident that could have been avoided.
7- Face the difficulty. The challenges excite you. There is something stronger than you that makes you feel almost happy when a problem arises. This is a very common trait in chess players, difficult to explain. No one will ever see you depressed. It is the famous saying "I was thrown into the midst of the wolves, and I came back being the leader of the pack." It must have to do with demonstrating your ability to solve problems, that is, with your intelligence, and why not?, with your ego.
8- Cold blood. Even in difficult times, you remain calm. Therefore, being with you, reassures clients and employees. During your franchise agreement, you are going to have difficult times, all businesses have them. If you get scared and don't know what to do, it will cause a catastrophe. Before buying a franchise, you must be sure that you will stay calm during the storms, that you will keep your composure and that you will know what are the important things to do and what to put aside.
9- Build a company. Let's not forget that you are an entrepreneur. You don't want to keep the rest of your life with a single franchise. Deep down, you want to start your own company, but with limited risks. In other words, you want to build a company that controls several franchises, and have your own management team to help you strategically build the business. This is a typical trait of the successful franchisee. There are many cases of franchisees that started with a franchise and today they manage several franchises of different brands in their territory, becoming a fundamental economic gear for their community.
10- Bon Vivant. This is a definition that has to do with quality of life. In accordance with the above features, and being a winner, it is evident that you have to want to honor life. You are grateful for what you have and for what you achieved, you recognize your social responsibility as an employer and a merchant, and you want to enjoy life. Therefore, enjoy your family, your friends, take care of your body, enjoy good food, study and perfect yourself, in short, for you, getting up every morning is a party. Not precisely because you have no problems, but because you know that the problems cannot be stronger than you, and because, although you do not yet know the solution, you are sure that you will find it. Because you are doing what you like.
Buying a franchise is not for everyone, but it can be a blessing for the right person. Don't lie to yourself. Even if you have the money and you like the brand and the business, it takes the franchisee's DNA to be successful buying and operating a franchise.
